Denouncing rulers in the heart: Does this include the general public and the scholars?

The questioner : Does denouncing the rulers in the heart apply to the general public, or only to the scholars?

The Shaykh : No, it applies to both scholars and the general public if they are unable to do so, for Allah says in the Noble Qur'an: . However, there is no doubt that what is obligatory for scholars is not obligatory for the general public, because scholars can reach the rulers while the general public cannot. If they are capable of denouncing them, they sin if they do not; if they are not capable, they owe nothing. Then know that it is not required for scholars, when they wish to denounce the Imam, to make it public. This is not obligatory upon them; in fact, we may say it is not permissible for them to do so, such as saying, "We told the Imam such and such." Because in this case, if they say this, either the Imam has submitted to them and changed, or he has not changed, and in that case, the hearts of the general public will be filled with resentment toward the Imam. It is not permissible for a person to say, "By Allah, I told the Imam such and such," whether he obeyed him or not, for the Imam has his sanctity. A person guides the Imam seeking the Face of Allah, so there is no need to announce it to the public, except to the select few who know that they are like him in respecting the rulers; in that case, it has the same ruling as the other.